Hame-tug.



UNTTep STATES Patented April 11, 1905.

\\'lliLl.-\\l L. SPRINGER, OF COOPERSTOV'N, NORTH DAKOTA.

HANlE-TUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,229, dated April l1, 1905.

Application tiled July 22, 1904. Serial No. 217.698.

l-e it known that l` 'ILLLxu L. Srmsonn, l a citi/.en ot' the United States, residing' ati Cooperstown. in the county ot' Griggs and State ol North Dakota. have invented a new and usel'ul llame-Tug, ot' which the tollow- I ing' is a specilication.

This invention relates to haine-tug attachments to harness, and has Yt'or its object to improve the construction and increase the strength. durability, and elliciency ot such devices` while at the same time. decreasing the expense ot' construct-ion.

\\'ith these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature ot the invention is i better understood, the same consists in certain novel features ot' construction, as hereinafter tully described and claimed.

lu the accompanying' drawings, forming a part ot' this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred t'orm ot' the embodiment of the invention capable ot' carrying' the same into practical operation` it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, porportions, and general assemblage ot' the parts may be resorted to without departing' from the principle ot' the invention or sacriticing any ot' its advantag'es.

ln the drawings thus employed, Figure lis a plan view ot' the improved device. Fig'. 2 is a trout elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line P) Pi ot' Fig. Fig'. 4e is an enlarged sectional detail ot' the haine-clip. Fig'. 5 isa perspective view of the back-band and girth-coupling' portion ot' the device.

Fig. o a perspective view ot' a modilied form of the haine-coupling' clip detached. Fig'. T is a perspective view ot a moditied t'orm of the hack-band and girth-clip coupling detached. Figs. S and 9 are detached perspective views ol two modilied `forms otl detachable dratt-trace-holding pins.

The improved device comprises a base-traine ll), having' lateral ribs Vll l2 longitudinallyotl itsl upper and lower edges and provided with spaced apertures l, disposed in vertical alinement, as shown. The rear tace ot' the trame l0, or the t'ace which comes next to the horse, will be rounded or oval-shaped, as shown in Fig'. 3, to prevent discomfort to the animal.

Pivoted, as at ll, between the t'orward ends ot the ribs ll l2 is a link l5, and mounted to swing vertically upon this link is a coupling' means by which connection is made with the, hames, this coupling means consisting' of two plates lo 1T, spaced apart and hinged together at one end, as at i8, and with half-sockets 19 Q in the two plates adjacent to the hinge Vlor i engaging' the bar ol the hames, which is not illustrated, as it forms no part ot' the invention. 'lhe opposite end ot' the plate lo is provided with a stud 23 t'or passing' through an aperture in the Vt'ree end ot' the link l5 and likewise through an aperture in thc other plate, l?, in which itis secured, as by riveting'. By this simple means the base member is adapted to be coupled flexibly to the haines in position to swing both vertically and laterally, as will be obvious.

Pivoted to the ribs ll l2 at the rear end ot' the base member l0 is a coupling means whereby the back and girth portions ot' the harness are connected, this coupling' consisting' ot a frame having' spaced side members 2st 25, pivoted, as at 2G 27, to the side ribs ll 1Q and provided with longitudinal apertures 28 2%) and connected intermediatcly by a bar 30 and also connected at their rear ends by a laterally-extending' loop 3l. The bar 30 is Vfurnished with a central lug 3Q, provided with a transverse aperture 33, the aperturesQS 2t to receive the billet ot' the back-band ot' the harness, a portion ol which is indicated at 3l, and the lug to pass through an aperture in the billet and be held therein, as by a pin 36 through the aperture 'lhe draft-trace, a portion ot' which is represented at 39, is passed beneath the loop -l and is disposed between the ribs ll l2 and in engagement with the outer t'ace ot' the base member l0 and has se- 3 cm'ed between its layers at its inner terminal a trace-eye -lO to receive a pin al, passed through a pair ot' the alined apertures 13. By

this means the draft-trace may be adjusted longitudinally ot the base member ll) by setting the pin 41 in any desired pair of apertures 13 to lengthen or shorten the draft-trace, as will be obvious.

One or more guard-loops 42 will be attached to the base member by short rivets through the ends of the loops and the apertures 13 to support the draft-trace and prevent lateral displacement of the same.

The pin 41 must be easily and readily detachable to enable the draft-trace to be quickly adjustable, and the pin must also be held in eng'agement with the base-frame withsuiicient firmness to prevent accidental displacement when the device is in use. An approved holding means consists of a spring-catch 45, riveted to a plate 45, secured to the eye member 40, and with one end 46 bent at right angles to its length and crotched to straddle the upper or head end of the pin 41 and hold it yieldably in position. The spring-catch 45 will possess sufficient force to hold the pin against accidental displacement from the severe jarring and shaking about to which it will be subjected when the harness is in use or when thrown about when not in use, while at the saine time readily yieldable to a force applied for its detachment when the trace is to be adjusted. If preferred, a wire spring 47 may be substituted for the Hat spring 45, as in Fig. 8, or a rubber band or strip 48 may be employed, as in Fig. 9, if required.

I/Vhen the improved device is attached to harness having an eye or loop on the hames instead of the ordinary bar, the form of clip shown at 50 in Fig. 6 will be employed, and a simple loop 49 may be substituted for the more elaborate coupling means at the rear end of the base member lO, if preferred.

It will be noted that a simply-constructed and strong and durable device is produced by means of which the draft-trace can be quickly and easily adjusted and which will not annoy and irritate the draft-animals or increase their burden or labor.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isw In a hame-tug, a base-frame having spaced lateral side ribs, means for adjustably connecting the draft-trace between said side ribs, detachable means for connecting the base- 'rame to the hames, a coupling-frame movably connected to the rear end of said baseframe and provided with a loop beneath which the draft-trace passes and having a transverse central bar provided with a central lateral stud for passing through the back-band and girth members of the harness, said stud having' a transverse aperture for receiving a holding-pin.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aHXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM L. STRINGER.

I/Vitnesses:

P. R. TREBsHAW, M. A. JENSEN. 

